Football
Dan Kilpatrick, Tottenham Correspondent 7y

Mauricio Pochettino: Tottenham's draw at Man City is a 'massive point'

MANCHESTER -- Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino hailed Saturday's draw at Manchester City as a "massive point" for his side after they came from two goals down to draw at the Etihad Stadium.

Leroy Sane capitalised on Hugo Lloris' mistake to give City the lead early in the second half and Kevin de Bruyne capitalised on another dreadful goalkeeping mistake to make it 2-0, only for Dele Alli to pull a goal back four minutes later.

Son Heung-Min scored a 76th-minute equaliser moments after City felt they should have had a penalty for Kyle Walker's push on Raheem Sterling, leaving Spurs six points ahead of City but six shy of league leaders Chelsea, who host Hull City on Sunday.

"I think after watching the game it was a huge point for us. I think Manchester City were better than us," Pochettino told a postmatch news conference.

"After the first half we didn't play in the way we wanted to play. It was a tough game for both sides. It was important, a massive point."

City's two both were both bad errors from Lloris but Pochettino defended his captain, insisting he is one of the best in the world in his position.

"I think Lloris kept us in the game in the first half," the manager said. "He was very good in the first half with one or two big saves. I don't change my opinion on him. He is one of the best goalkeepers and sometimes those things happen in football. That action can happen but it was a very good performance on the pitch."

Spurs were without Jan Vertonghen, who will miss the next six weeks with ankle ligament damage, while Toby Alderweireld limped off in the second half with a tight hamstring, leaving Eric Dier and Victor Wanyama to see out the match at centre-back.

"We have good players that can play in a different position like Eric Dier and Victor Wanyama. They can play like a midfielder or a centre-back. That's a good balance in the team that we have," Pochettino said.

"I think it [Toby's injury] doesn't look bad. We don't know if it was an injury or it was a precaution that he decided to come off the pitch. I think he felt tired and I think Toby, when we were talking, it doesn't look bad."

There was a suggestion of handball from Leroy Sane for the first goal but Pochettino felt the referee Andre Marriner made the right call on that and the push on Sterling.

"For me, it wasn't a penalty. Like the first goal was scored, it was a handball. It wasn't a penalty and it wasn't a handball, so I think it's a good balance," he added.

"In the two actions that is England. If you review all the action you can see that touch in behind happens a lot and the referee never says anything about. For me it wasn't a penalty. In England it is different. We cannot complain about the referee though. It's true that Manchester City were better than us, but in football sometimes you can be better but don't win."

^ Back to Top ^